Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- sentimental
- colorful
- family movie night
- weekend afternoon
What critics said
Critics broadly found Tim Burton's visual flair appealing but judged the crowded, expanded story more workmanlike than wondrous.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film adapts Disney's 1941 animated Dumbo into a substantially expanded live-action narrative.
Tim Burton's direction emphasizes stylized circus environments, flying sequences, and heightened production design.
Dumbo's oversized ears initially make him a laughingstock before his ability to fly transforms his place in the circus.
V. A. Vandevere recruits Dumbo as a lucrative attraction and folds his extraordinary ability into a larger entertainment enterprise.
Films like Dumbo, and why
The Jungle Book
family fantasy adventure centered on an extraordinary animal and emotional bonds
The Lion King
live-action Disney remake combining family storytelling, cgi creatures, spectacle, and themes of belonging
The BFG
whimsical family fantasy about outsider children and a magical creature pursued by adults
The Greatest Showman
circus setting, outsider protagonists, heightened visual design, and warm emotional uplift
Movie Details
- Director
- Tim Burton
- Release Date
- 2019-03-27
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (4579)
Cast
- Colin Farrell
- Michael Keaton
- Danny DeVito
- Eva Green
- Nico Parker
- Finley Hobbins
- Alan Arkin
- Roshan Seth
- Deobia Oparei
- Joseph Gatt
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dumbo about?
- A bereaved circus family helps a ridiculed baby elephant turn miraculous flight into a path toward freedom and belonging.
- What is Dumbo like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dumbo as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Dumbo violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Dumbo as mild.
- What did critics think of Dumbo?
- Critics broadly found Tim Burton's visual flair appealing but judged the crowded, expanded story more workmanlike than wondrous.
- Which films are like Dumbo?
- Films with a similar feel include The Jungle Book, The Lion King, The BFG, and The Greatest Showman.
- How long is Dumbo?
- Dumbo runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dumbo?
- In United States, Dumbo streams on Disney Plus.
